Students from Democritus University of Thrace visit the Ecumenical Patriarchate

On Saturday afternoon, 25 May 2024, a group of students from the Department of Language, Literature, and Culture of the Black Sea Countries at Democritus University of Thrace, led by Professor Paschalis Valsamidis, visited the Ecumenical Patriarchate. During their visit, they met with His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who welcomed them warmly. After paying their respects, the students received the Patriarch’s blessings and good wishes.

The group was then given a guided tour of the Patriarchal Church and the Patriarchate’s premises by Mrs. Efstathia Mania, a postgraduate student from the same department and the secretary of the synodal offices.

The visit concluded at the Eugenides building of the Patriarchate, where the students had the honour of meeting with His Eminence Elder Metropolitan Apostolos of Derkoi. Metropolitan Apostolos shared valuable historical insights and personal experiences from his time at the Theological School and the Holy Trinity Monastery of Halki, where he served as Abbot for 16 years (1995-2011). He also discussed his work in the Holy Metropolis of Derkoi from 2011 to the present.

An engaging discussion followed between the students and the Metropolitan, where many questions were raised about the daily life and responsibilities of a clergyman in Constantinople. The visit was both educational and inspiring, providing the students with a deeper understanding of the religious and cultural heritage of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Source: orthodoxtimes.com